[bars] PSA for FT8/FT4 users - HOLD TX FREQ

Mon May 5 14:46:23 CDT 2025

Juan - I didn't suggest running 100W unnecessarily, and I don't think
others here have or meant to.  I meant to emphasize that the control of
power output is affected by the full chain of signal generation and
handling, and that having "100%" set at the radio doesn't necessarily mean
that's your transmitted level.  Jim makes a good point that being on the
edges of any one device's range of control may mean non-ideal behavior.

I would perhaps quibble a bit that "weak signals" are from the point of
view of the receiver, not the transmitter, and include both the raw
magnitude measured there referenced to the noise floor or other local
conditions.  The power levels at my antenna port that will generate a
decodable "weak signal" in MA, CA, or VK will be different.  So, "weak
signal" modes aren't inherently QRP - though it's amazing what can be done
with low power in many situations.

That said, your point is well taken - the general principle of using "the
power required for the intended contact, and no more" applies here to be a
good ham citizen, as much as any other mode.  In the case of digital modes
we also have a lot of tools - PSKreporter, etc - as well as direct feedback
from the stations we're contacting.  If you're seeing "+20" reports from
stations you decode at "-5" level to you, there's probably room to reduce
power :).

73,
Adam / AA1N

On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 10:31 AM Juan Jiménez <k1cpr at bd5.com> wrote:

> FT4 and 8 are protocols designed to allow communications in conditions of
> weak or fading signals. As such, users should use the minimum power setting
> that will allow them to communicate. Blasting continuously at 100w or more
> does nothing but overwhelm the bands an annoy your fellow HAMs.
>
> 73,
> K1CPR
> Juan
>
>
> On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 9:24 AM Adam Smith via bars <bars at w1hh.org> wrote:
>
>> Chris, All -
>>
>> One thing that wasn't clear to me as a new FT-mode operator (I'm still
>> not a very regular user) was how I should control power output.  There are
>> many positions taken / methods used if you search for this online.  Since
>> you're basically using USB from the radio's perspective, the actual
>> transmitted power is controlled both by the power setting in the radio, and
>> the settings in your computer & software which create the audio input.
>>
>> The advice I've gotten most from operators I trust is - set the radio to
>> the maximum intended power level.  E.g. on a desktop rig this could be
>> 100%/100W, or say half that if you want to de-rate for digital mode duty
>> cycle.  Then use the power output slider at the lower right side of the
>> WSJTX interface to control the actual output level.  Make sure that Windows
>> (or other OS, but Windows always seems to change things when you're not
>> looking) isn't applying some other level control (there are per-interface
>> and sometimes per-program settings in the Sound control panel or whatever
>> it's called).  Watch the meters on the radio to assess your actual peak
>> output and to make sure that ALC is not reaching 100%, which will cause you
>> to splatter.
>>
>> Probably a good idea to start with low power and ramp up after you show
>> that you have the audio and control paths working.  You can also check that
>> audio is being sent by routing it to the speakers instead of to the radio
>> audio interface.
>>
>> If you come back to the setup after having things disconnected (or after
>> Windows has updated), and find that you seem to have no output, check the
>> settings on the computer side first.  Especially on Windows I find that
>> often the COM port has changed, or gotten disconnected from the digimode
>> program, or something ... or the audio/"mixer" settings have changed and
>> are sending the output to the wrong place.  Related to that - make sure
>> that you're not sending *all* sound from your computer to the rig audio
>> interface when it's plugged in - including beeps/alerts, music you're
>> playing, etc.
>>
>> Again, I'm not the most regular FT* user, but you asked for some
>> starting-point tips and those are things I've run into while dabbling with
>> FT-x, Feldhell, js8call, etc.  Glad to hear from others too.
>>
>> 73,
>> Adam / AA1N
>>
>> On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 11:14 PM Tim - K1DC via bars <bars at w1hh.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Congrats, Chris!
>>>
>>> Please ping me if you have questions.
>>>
>>> Tim/K1DC
>>> On 5/4/2025 16:00, Christopher Lennon wrote:
>>>
>>> Well thanks for the encouragement all.
>>>
>>> It turns out that getting receive to work was as simple as connecting
>>> all the cables together and turning it on.  Getting it to transmit was
>>> another matter.  Hours of YouTube videos later and the settings were right
>>> and the G90 quirk that line input gain needs to be maxed out.
>>>
>>> I didn't call CW, so I didn't show up on the psk reporter, but I
>>> completed a QSO with KU4OC.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Chris
>>> W2BPL
>>>
>>> PS I had hold TXfreq checked!
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Courageously sent from a non-Apple device that *includes* a headphone
>>> jack.
>>> ------------------------------
>>> <https://k1dc.com/img/k1dc-qsl-card-front.png> Tim Carter - K1DC
>>> +1.978.710.0133 <1.978.710.0133>
>>> k1dc.radio at gmail.com
>>> https://k1dc.com
>>>
>>> "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are
>>> incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful
>>> beyond imagination." -- *Albert Einstein*
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch." -Garrison Keillor
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